Transfer Station Board Elects 1997- 98 Officers

DURHAM — The Durham- Middlefield Interlocal Agreement Advisory Board has elected officers for 1997-98, with Middlefield resident Robert Johnson re-elected as board chairman.

The election of Johnson, an independent electrical contractor, was not unanimous. Durham First Selectman Henry Robinson voted against Johnson.

Johnson, who became chairman in July 1996, was re-elected July 17 when six of the board's eight members convened to elect officers. The board, which includes four members from each town, governs the operation of the solid waste transfer station on Cherry Hill Road that serves both towns.

Robert Bascom, a Middlefield resident and civil engineer, was renamed board treasurer, with Curt Bober of Durham elected secretary.

Bascom and Katherine Moss, another Middlefield member, were absent from the meeting Thursday night. Johnson was supported by members Thomas White of Middlefield, and Bober, Richard Eriksen, and Christine Wilmanns of Durham.

Robinson voted against another term for Johnson as chairman, even though no other individuals were nominated for the position.

``I voted my conscience and voted against him,'' Robinson said. The first selectman added that he had declined suggestions that he serve as secretary or treasurer.

Johnson said Robinson is ``entitled to his opinion,'' on his performance as chairman.

Robinson, beginning his third year on the regional board, said he was willing to serve another year as chairman. ``Hopefully we can keep the board moving in the right direction,'' he said.

Robinson, who has served on the board for the past four years, said he is satisfied with the day-to-day operation of the solid waste transfer station. Robinson said his concerns with Johnson's tenure as chairman focus on the board's relations with members of the public.

Robinson was involved in a public dispute with Johnson last winter over the status of the board's annual audit.

In a separate controversy earlier this year, the board attempted to bill Middlefield resident Al Deans $1,343 for copies of 1,793 pages of documents after he requested access to records showing the amount of money the board spent on court litigation with David Huntley, a former employee. The dispute was resolved last month after the board provided Deans with the information he had requested.

Public access to board records also became an issue earlier this month after Marianne Corona of Middlefield requested that all board records be placed in a public building in Durham or Middlefield. Several boxes of records were deposited last week at Durham Town Hall, though Robinson said he does not have space at Durham town hall to store the materials on a permanent basis.